This is intended to be a homage to very many musicians I've loved since I started listening to music. My intention is to tell what I know about them, hoping that those people who like them too, will help me fill numerous gaps, which I may have in their careers and discographies. Sorry, but there are no MP3 audio files here at all, just info (and love for the musicians).

Percussionist Neemoi Acquaye played with several bands in the beginning of the British boom. He was born Nii Moi Acquaye in James Town, Accra, Ghana (then, it was known as Gold Coast), Africa on June 7, 1931, but went to live in England in 1947. He earned his living as a fire eater and a dancer, as well as actor, before starting playing music as a pro.

Speedy Acquaye

TUBBY HAYES GROUP

After emigrating to England, Speedy Acquaye started playing with Tubby Hayes Group:

The time for a recording contract had arrived. They were scheduled to record a live album, but Speedy couldn't play as he was arrested (thus missing appearing in the live album recorded at The Flamingo, where he was replaced by Tommy Thomas). After the problems are solved, Speedy rejoins the band in October 1963. The lineup had suffered some other changes too and Tex Makins returns to the band.

Tex Makins returns to The Blue Flames in October 1963, asked by Georgie:

A great loss for the band was Mick Eve who left them in July 1964. During the period he was in the band, some singers had made the odd gig with the band, although they weren't official members: John Hodgkinson (later to reappear as J.W. Hodgkinson in the superb band If), Ronnie Jones, Paul Williams or Geno Washington were some that would come down and do a number or two with the band.

This was the first lineup of Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames without Mick Eve:

But Seamen wasn't able to play all of the time, so Micky Waller was brought to play when Seaman wasn't available.

Waller (and Seamen) left in September 1964.

Another different lineup for George Fame & The Blue Flames in October 1964, marking the reunion with an old friend, Colin Green, who was the original guitarist in the band. Bill Eyden is the new drummer, replacing mythical Phil Seamen:

They released a 3rd album, Sweet things. But in July 1966, Speedy and Cliff leave the band (Cliff was replaced by another great player, Ricky Brown). The band called it a day 4 months later. It was the end of an era...

Can't find proper info about the different lineups, but some of the musicians that played in the band during that period were Junior Marvin, Ian Hague, Andy Rickwell and fabulous singer Linda Lewis.

Speedy appears in their EP with the songs ´The incredible Miss Brown / Coming home to you / Nº 1 in your heart / Cruisin´´, as he can be spotted in the EP cover that was released in November 1966.

Speedy also appears in their album from 1967, Number 1 in your heart. But, after a while, he left the band and started playing in sessions. By the way, this album has been reissued a couple of times, under different titles: Soul, soul, soul or also as Soultime!, including the whole album, some singles and some live track.

Other info on members of Herbie Goins & The Night Timers (I know up to 22 members)

Ginger Baker's Airforce was a megaband, formed after Blind Faith demise. Originally conceived as a one-off association, it finally went through almost two years, with changing lineups. Speedy joined around 1970. I don't know if there were more lineups with Speedy, so any help with info would be very welcomed!

They recorded a new album, Ginger Baker´s Air Force 2, although 3 songs still feature musicians from previous lineup (Denny Laine, Harold McNair, and Ric Grech).

In 1998, it has been released a 2CD, Do what you like, comprising the whole two Airforce albums, plus an outtake from 2nd album, plus several songs from Ginger Baker´s album Stratavarious (featuring Bobby Tench under the pseudonym Bobby Gass).

They did a few college gigs and played and upstairs at Ronnie Scotts. Speedy used to do fire eating on stage. and we played upstairs at Ronnie Scotts. Speedy used to do fire eating on stage. Their managed was Ronnie Lane who also produced their album, Akido, in 1972. But the players in the album are not the same ones, so I think there was more different lineups by Akido (probably with Biddy Wright). Can someone help here, please?

Other info on members of Akido (I know up to 5 members)

To be covered (3):

Louise Arthurworrey, Mark Arthurworrey, Biddy Wright

JOHN MARTYN BAND

Neemoi Acquaye backed John Martyn for a while, but can´t get proper info:

And I haven't been able to find more info about Speedy, apart from the fact that he sadly died in London on September 15, 1993, due to liver cancer. He had been working with Georgie Fame again not long before. Any help with info will be very appreciated.

Comments:
One of the sessions deserve a bit of explanation. In 1979, Wings released a new album, Back to the egg. It includes two track with the Rockestra, an all-star lineup assembled by Paul McCartney. Be ready... this is the lineup:

Comments:
This album was recorded in 1968, originally to be the 2nd album by Poet & The One Man Band, but it remained unreleased until 1995, now credited as Heads Hands & Feet. The Bond Street Midnight Choir that appears contains, uncredited, none other than Zoot Money, Lesley Duncan, Madeline Bell, Andy Summers, John Anderson, Linda Lewis, B J Cole, David Foster, Ray Osborne, Jamba and Tony Ashton.

RELATED VIDEO LINKS: 11
Disclaimer: I don´t own or upload any of the videos linked here. I just include links to live videos that are already available, in order to show the work of this musician. Anyway, if someone feels that some link shouldn't be included, please write me at the email address shown below. And if you know of more videos featuring Speedy Acquaye, please, also write me with the link.